More Info:

Note: In the results above, the seats are the total seats won in the election. The vote counts and percentages represent the single-member district votes.

At stake in this election:

480 seats in the House of Representatives (Shugi-in)

Description of government structure:

Chief of State: Emperor AKIHITO

Head of Government: Prime Minister Junichiro KOIZUMI

Assembly: Japan has a bicameral Diet (Kokkai) consisting of the House of Councillors (Sangi-in) with 242 seats and the House of Representatives (Shugi-in) with 480 seats.

Description of electoral system:

The Emperor is N/A N/A.

In the House of Councillors (Sangi-in), 144 members are elected in multi-member constituencies to serve 6-year terms and 98 members are elected by proportional representation to serve 6-year terms. In the House of Representatives (Shugi-in), 300 members are elected in single-member constituencies to serve 4-year terms and 180 members are elected by proportional representation to serve 4-year terms.**

** 180 members by proportional representation in 11 regional blocs.

Main parties in the electoral race:

Party: Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) / Jiyuminshuto

Leader: Junichiro KOIZUMI

Seats won in this House of Representatives election: 296

Seats won in last House of Representatives election: 237

Party: Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) / Minshuto

Leader: Katsuya OKADA

Seats won in this House of Representatives election: 113

Seats won in last House of Representatives election: 117

Party: New Clean Government Party / New Komeito

Leader: Takenori KANZAKI

Seats won in this House of Representatives election: 31

Seats won in last House of Representatives election: 34

Party: Japan Communist Party (JCP) / Nihon Kyosanto

Leader: Kazuo SHII

Seats won in this House of Representatives election: 9

Seats won in last House of Representatives election: 9

Party: Social Democratic Party of Japan (SDP) / Shakai Minshuto

Leader: Mizuho FUKUSHIMA

Seats won in this House of Representatives election: 7

Seats won in last House of Representatives election: 6

Party: People's New Party / Kokumin Shinto******

Leader: Tamisuke WATANUKI

Seats won in this House of Representatives election: 4

Seats won in last House of Representatives election: N/A

Party: New Party Japan / Shinto Nippon

Leader: Yasuo TANAKA

Seats won in this House of Representatives election: 1

Seats won in last House of Representatives election: N/A

Party: New Party, Big Land / Shinto Daichi

Leader: Muneo SUZUKI

Seats won in this House of Representatives election: 1

Seats won in last House of Representatives election: N/A

****** Party: Leader: Seats won in this election: 4 Seats won in last election: NA

Last Parliamentary election:

The last parliamentary election for the House of Representatives was held on November 9, 2003.

Population and number of registered voters:

Population: 127,773,000 (2005)

Registered Voters: 103,356,879 (September 2005)

Gender Data:

· Female Population: 65,3429,943 (2005)

· Is Japan a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (17 July 1980)

· Has Japan ratified CEDAW: Yes (25 June 1985)

· Gender Quota: No

· Female candidates in this election: Yes

· Number of Female Parliamentarians: 43 (House of Representatives); 38 (House of Councillors)